Farmers donate much-needed water to Cape Town

With the Cape Town water restrictions reaching level 6B, the city needs all the help it can get to prevent #DayZero. 

Read: Is KwaZulu-Natal facing its own #DayZero?

The Groenland Water Users' Association has made 10-billion litres of water available to Cape Town and this will bring major relief, even if only for a short while. After the water donation and the drop in agricultural water usage, #DayZero has been pushed back to 11 May 2018. 

The farming community from the Elgin/Grabouw regions, after negotiations with the city, decided that they would release their water supply into smaller surrounding dams, which supply Cape Town, after having had a favourable rainy season. The water will make its way to the Steenbras Dam. 

However, if the area of Eligin/Grabouw does not receive good rains this time around, they may face a similar fate to that of Cape Town. 

Read: Cape Town clamps down on water wasters

You know how I love a story of goodwill and care for others. This story warms my heart and the thought of relief, even if  just for a while, is a comforting thought.

This does not mean that all is now well, though. The City of Cape Town has already upped its price of water with the aim of reducing consumption. This is based on the premise of "the more you use the more you pay". The water tariff increase will reflect in February statements. 

Read: Water restrictions remain in place in KZN

According to eNCA, work is proceeding on the Monwabisi, Strandfontein, V&A Waterfront, and Cape Town Harbour desalination plants, the Atlantis and Cape Flats Aquifer projects, and the Zandvliet water recycling project, which will collectively produce an additional 196 million litres per day as they come into effect between February and July 2018.

For now, we encourage all people to reduce the amount of water they use and we hope for a good rainy season for all provinces.